# Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway

Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway is a primary (classified as a main line up to km 33.000), partially electrified, single- and double-track railway line in northern Poland, connecting Nowa Wieś Wielka railway station [pl] with the Gdynia Port railway station via Bydgoszcz, Wierzchucin, Lipowa, Kościerzyna, Somonino, and Gdynia. The line runs through the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Pomeranian voivodeships, within the operational area of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe in Gdańsk. It is equipped with Automatic Train Braking inductors along its entire length.
Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway is part of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line, one of the key infrastructure investments of the Second Polish Republic. It is classified as a line of national importance. The line provided a direct connection to the port in Gdynia, bypassing the Free City of Danzig, thus facilitating coal exports, which had previously been severely hindered by the Free City's authorities. Due to border changes in 1939, the line lost its strategic importance and became a regional route, now serving as a detour in case of disruptions on the Tczew–Gdańsk–Gdynia section.

## Route

Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway begins in Nowa Wieś Wielka, where the northern branches of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line diverge. It then runs almost meridionally northward, reaching the eastern outskirts of Bydgoszcz. Upon intersecting Kutno–Piła Główna railway [pl], which connects Kutno with Piła via Toruń and Bydgoszcz, it turns westward. From there, the two lines either run parallel (with Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway serving freight stations) or share tracks. Between Bydgoszcz Leśna [pl] and Rynkowo [pl] railway stations, Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway veers northeast, running jointly with Chorzów Batory–Tczew railway (the Polish Coal Trunk-Line) up to Maksymilianowo [pl]. At Maksymilianowo, it branches off northward, continuing almost meridionally to Kościerzyna.
In Kościerzyna, the line turns northeast toward Gdynia, bypassing natural obstacles such as lakes. The most significant deviations from a straight path occur in Gdynia itself. Due to challenging terrain, the section between Gdańsk Osowa and Gdynia Główna was built as a double-track line from the outset. Another double-track section is located within the Bydgoszcz rail hub, between Nowa Wieś Wielka and Maksymilianowo, where the second track was added in 1942.
The line runs through the following counties: Bydgoszcz, Świecie, Tuchola, Chojnice, Kościerzyna, Kartuzy, Gdańsk, and Gdynia. The Polish Coal Trunk-Line passes through the following mesoregions: Inowrocław Plain [pl], Toruń Basin [pl], Świecie Upland [pl], Tuchola Forest, Kashubian Lake District, and Kashubian Coast [pl].

## Technical characteristics

Maximum speed limits (in km/h) :
| track 1 | track 1 | track 1 | section | section | track 2 | track 2 | track 2 |
| passenger trains | railbuses | freight trains | km start | km end | passenger trains | railbuses | freight trains |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | -1.395 | 0.156 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 0.156 | 17.866 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 17.866 | 20.062 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 20.062 | 20.505 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 20.505 | 22.174 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 22.174 | 22.200 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 22.200 | 31.730 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 31.730 | 31.735 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 31.735 | 34.075 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 34.075 | 34.476 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 120 | 120 | 80 | 34.476 | 71.349 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 100 | 100 | 80 | 71.349 | 96.500 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 96.500 | 136.348 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 70 | 70 | 70 | 136.348 | 137.028 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 137.028 | 139.030 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 139.030 | 139.760 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 120 | 120 | 90 | 139.760 | 148.400 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 148.400 | 153.670 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 110 | 110 | 90 | 153.670 | 159.190 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 159.190 | 161.690 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 161.690 | 162.350 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 110 | 110 | 90 | 162.350 | 175.200 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 120 | 120 | 90 | 175.200 | 186.530 | single-track section | single-track section | single-track section |
| 120 | 120 | 90 | 186.530 | 189.510 | 120 | 120 | 90 |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 189.510 | 190.250 | 100 | 100 | | 90 |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 190.250 | 193.620 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| 100 | 100 | 90 | 193.620 | 196.500 | 100 | 100 | 90 |
| 90 | 90 | 90 | 196.500 | 202.000 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| 120 | 120 | 90 | 202.000 | 203.750 | 100 | 100 | 90 |
| 80 | 80 | 60 | 203.750 | 205.668 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| 30 | 30 | 30 | 205.668 | 207.100 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| 30 | 30 | 30 | 207.100 | 210.374 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| | | | 210.374 | 210.763 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| data as of 31 December 2022 ||||||||||

## History
### Before the construction of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line

Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway is the northern section of the interwar Polish Coal Trunk-Line, which connected Silesia with the Port of Gdynia while bypassing the territory of the Free City of Danzig. Due to its intended purpose, the line avoided Łódź by several dozen kilometers. The only major city it passed through was Bydgoszcz, but even there, it traversed the city's peripheral eastern part.
The only previously existing railway segment incorporated into the line was a short section of the Kościerzyna–Kartuzy railway, specifically a 13.5 km stretch between Gołubie Kaszubskie and Somonino, which opened on 14 November 1901. Additionally, shortly after World War I, segments were constructed to bypass the Free City of Danzig, connecting Kokoszki with Gdynia. However, the rush in which these lines were built meant they were only suitable for local and military traffic.

### Plans

In 1920, the Polish government outlined the general framework for the main transportation routes in Poland. The priority was to establish connections between the coal basins and Warsaw, Gdańsk, Hrubieszów, and Konin. This plan, which was only a general outline, later served as the basis for more detailed projects developed between 1926 and 1928.
Due to the hostile stance of the Gdańsk authorities towards Poland and the difficulties related to the operation of the port in Gdańsk, on 23 September 1922, the Sejm passed a decision to build a port in Gdynia, specifically between the villages of Oksywie and Gdynia. However, a major problem with the operation of the port was the lack of a railway connection that did not require passing through the territory of the Free City of Danzig.
An additional impetus for the construction of the trunk-line facilitating maritime exports was the customs war between Poland and Germany. At that time, Poland had a significant overproduction of coal relative to its own needs and the ability to export it to neighboring countries other than Germany. Another reason for the importance of this trunk-line was the potential for transit, especially from Czechoslovakia, which had no access to any sea, but also from Romania and Bulgaria, for which access to the Baltic Sea was better than exporting via the Black Sea or Yugoslavia.

### Construction

On 7 October 1925, the Council of Ministers issued a decree for the expropriation of properties required for the construction of the railway between Bydgoszcz and Gdynia. The line was initially built by the state, but all the bridges and culverts were constructed by private companies that won tenders for the approximately 20 km stretch. Contracts with private companies were signed between 1927 and 1929, during the construction of the line.
The first section of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway, constructed as part of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line, was the bypass of Bydgoszcz between Bydgoszcz Wschód and Maksymilianowo. This section, opened on 15 May 1928, allowed trains traveling from the direction of Toruń to pass towards Tczew without the need to change the train's head at Bydgoszcz Główna.
The second section was the connection between Bąk and Kościerzyna. This line was opened on 15 October 1928, although it became operational on 1 November 1926. The line served two purposes: on one hand, it allowed the transport of construction materials, and on the other, it shortened the route between Tczew and Kościerzyna, as it did not require a detour to the border station of Chojnice. This section used embankments of an unfinished line connecting Czersk with Gdańsk, and in the future, it was to be part of a trunk-line connecting Gdańsk with Poznań. The section from Czersk to Bąk was to be an entry point to the trunk-line heading north from Chojnice (Germany) and Tczew (East Prussia).
The economic crisis meant that the state lacked sufficient funds to complete the investment. Additionally, funds had to be allocated for the repair of existing lines. To salvage the project, discussions were held, including the possibility of selling shares of the Polish Bank, but the government opposed this. In 1930, Polish State Railways' revenue significantly decreased, prompting the government, under pressure, to begin negotiations with French investors. Due to longstanding political ties between France and Poland, they decided to fund the completion of the line in exchange for a concession to operate freight services. The French–Polish Rail Association included the Schneider-Creusot conglomerate, which was involved in the construction of the port in Gdynia and had shares in mines and steel mills in Silesia. The French–Polish Rail Association had 8 million francs in French capital and 7 million francs in Polish capital. Additional bonds were issued to cover the remaining construction costs.
On 9 November 1930, the entire line between Bydgoszcz and Gdynia was opened. Furthermore, existing sections between Kościerzyna and Gołub (Kościerzyna–Kartuzy line) and Osowa (now Gdańsk Osowa) and Gdynia (now Gdynia Główna, Gdynia–Kokoszki line) were adjusted. On 21 December, the section between Nowa Wieś Wielka and Bydgoszcz Wschodnia was opened, completing the entire line from Silesia to Gdynia. Beyond Gdynia station, the line entered a port branch that was initially not part of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway. Although the line was already operational, final finishing works continued until the autumn of 1933, and infrastructure-related work lasted until the following year. During construction, modifications were made to the project due to local needs. For example, on 22 May 1932, the Babidół (now Babi Dół) and Żukowo Wschodnie railway stations were put into operation, and railway stations with baggage handling were built at these stops.
During the interwar period, the Polish Coal Trunk-Line was primarily used by freight trains. Long-distance passenger trains were directed through Tczew and the Free City of Danzig. The only passenger trains operating on Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway were a few pairs of local passenger trains mainly serving the Kościerzyna junction, one pair of long-distance passenger trains between Gdynia and Katowice operated by the Ok22 steam locomotive, and for a short time, the express train Lviv–Gdynia.

### World War II

On 25 August 1939, the railway was militarized, and the wartime timetable came into effect during the night of 31 August to 1 September. The northern section of the trunk-line was used by the III Improvised Armored Train of the Coastal Defense, Smok Kaszubski. With the entry of the Wehrmacht, the Germans took control of all railway facilities and rolling stock, and the line was administratively assigned to the Reichsbahndirektion Danzig. Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway was severely damaged during the September Campaign. However, due to its significant role in the economy of the Reich, it was rebuilt by 1940. Due to more favorable conditions on the Bydgoszcz–Tczew–Gdańsk line, the northern part of the trunk line (i.e., Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway) was downgraded to a secondary line and was not modernized during the war, except for the section from Nowa Wieś Wielka to Bydgoszcz Wschód. In March 1945, the railway was taken over by the Polish administration, with the final section (Gdynia) being liberated on 26 March.

### Post-war reconstruction

After the Polish administration took control of Pomerania, work began on the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure. The entire line was assigned to the District Railway Directorate in Gdańsk, which was divided into zones responsible for reconstruction in its area. The units from Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, and Kościerzyna were in charge of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway.
One problem that arose was the concession agreement, which granted the French–Polish Rail Association a concession until 1975. The communist authorities, wanting to show the legal continuity of the state, had to respect this agreement. However, the communists were not in favor of having such an important railway line controlled by a private foreign (Western) company. Polish State Railways authorities did everything they could to discourage the French from making claims and sought to terminate the agreement as quickly as possible without violating its terms. Ultimately, the agreement was terminated on 10 May 1947.
On 1 July 1949, the militarization of the railway was lifted, and normal operations were gradually restored. At the same time, the railway's operability was restored.
On 15 February 1948, near the Krykulec railway station (currently in the city of Gdynia), an accident occurred. A freight train, led by a Ty246 locomotive, driven by an inexperienced engineer unfamiliar with the track, ran into the rear of another train due to air pressure loss in the brakes. The collision destroyed 16 wagons. The aftermath of the accident took about four days to clear, with damages estimated at 9 million PLN. As a result of the 1949 accident, catch tracks were constructed between Osowa and Gdynia, according to the design of engineer Köpcke. The reconstruction of the line was completed in 1953.

### 1953–1990

After the reconstruction, the importance of the line initially increased due to the congestion of the Tczew–Gdańsk section. However, transit traffic began to decrease in the 1950s, while local traffic grew due to the development of local industries in the Kościerzyna County and surrounding areas. In the 1960s, passenger traffic quickly expanded, particularly on the Kościerzyna–Gdynia section. In 1960, there were 9 pairs of trains operating between these cities, and by 1963, there were 13, which was the highest number on this route.
In the late 1950s, in addition to the ongoing reconstruction, a significant factor was the electrification of the line, especially for main and suburban lines. Electric traction was cheaper and easier to maintain, so trains were gradually redirected to electrified lines. In 1969, the Bydgoszcz–Tczew–Gdańsk route was electrified, leading to the rerouting of transit trains.
On 5 October 1967, the section from Nowa Wieś Wielka to Maksymilianowo was electrified.
On 15 June 1969, at 3:40 PM, a tragic accident occurred on the single-track section between Kościerzyna and Skorzewo. A freight train driven by a Ty246-84 locomotive collided head-on with a passenger train driven by an Ok1-279 locomotive. The disaster resulted in 7 deaths and 14 injuries, making it the deadliest accident involving Ty246 locomotives.
On 30 June 1970, the electrification of the Gdynia Główna–Gdynia Port section was completed.
In 1978, Polish State Railways announced plans to quickly phase out steam locomotives from passenger and freight services on the difficult-to-serve lines of the Northern District Railway Directorate. At that time, there were 13 operational steam locomotives, primarily used for shunting. However, the harsh winter of 1978/1979 led to the return of steam locomotives for some time.
In the 1980s, the line underwent repairs, although these were not accompanied by any modernization of the signaling and control systems, which still dated back to the World War II era.

### After 1990

After 1989, the economic system change led to a significant reduction in coal transport, making Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway no longer necessary for handling excess traffic. On 30 August 1990, the last scheduled fast train on the Gdynia–Wrocław route passed through Kościerzyna. From 1991, the line was used exclusively for limited freight transport to Gdynia and on the Chojnice–Bydgoszcz route. Additionally, trains carrying oversized cargo appeared occasionally. Local passenger traffic remained largely unchanged.
On 1 April 1991, the locomotive depot in Kościerzyna was closed, marking the end of regular steam locomotive operation. However, by the late 1980s, steam locomotives from the Kościerzyna depot primarily served branch lines and occasionally freight trains. Only steam locomotives used for tourist (retro) trains were retained.
In 1992, the first SA101 railbuses were introduced on the Kościerzyna–Gdynia route. However, they proved too small and were soon reassigned to lower-demand routes around Czersk and Chojnice. Two years later, the SA102 series, an improved version of SA101, was introduced on this route but was withdrawn in 2000.
The electrification of the Kościerzyna–Gdynia section was planned for 1993 but was not carried out due to political and economic transformations.
On 24 September 1998, demonstration runs of the German VT644 TALENT diesel multiple unit took place on the Gdańsk Osowa–Gdynia Główna route.
Between 22 and 27 March 1999, track layout modernization was carried out at Żukowo Wschodnie railway station. This caused a temporary suspension of train traffic between Borkowo and Rębiechowo, while shuttle services operated between Kościerzyna–Borkowo and Rębiechowo–Gdynia Główna.
On 1 December 1999, Wieżyca railway station was closed. Semaphore arms were lowered, signal boxes were barricaded, and switches were converted to manual operation. From then on, the station was downgraded to a passenger stop.
On 2 April 2000, the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Bydgoszcz Wschód section was closed to passenger traffic, although a seasonal summer train on the Katowice–Słupsk route still operated that year.
On the section between Kościerzyna and Gdynia, the Pesa 214M was tested. The vehicle reached a speed of 130 km/h between Kościerzyna and Skorzewo.
Since 9 July 2001, during the flood in Gdańsk, all passenger traffic to and from the Tricity area was diverted through Wierzchucin/Tczew and Kościerzyna. Due to high traffic and the low capacity of the line, freight trains servicing the port in Gdynia were formed into the heaviest possible compositions at Zajączkowo Tczewskie railway station. After a few days, one track between Gdańsk and Tczew was reopened, allowing passenger trains to return to their traditional routes.
In March 2002, due to the reconstruction of the viaduct over Grunwaldzka Street in Bydgoszcz, detours were established via the southern section of the coal line. Several pairs of passenger trains, including the Piast express from Wrocław to Gdynia, ran this route.
In 2006, the summer express train Bory Tucholskie was introduced, running from Warszawa Wschodnia to Kołobrzeg. This train passed through the coal mainline between Maksymilianowo and Wierzchucin without stopping at any stations along the route. This connection was the longest route operated by PKP Intercity with diesel traction. The 2008/2009 schedule, until the 2015/2016 timetable, was the last one with this fast train service.
On 9 December 2007, the private carrier Arriva PCC debuted on the tracks of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Initially, Arriva trains ran on the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway from Bydgoszcz to Wierzchucin (and onward to Chojnice) and from Laskowice Pomorskie to Czersk (on the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway, the Wierzchucin–Lipowa Tucholska section).
In 2008, as part of the modernization of the Warsaw–Gdynia line before the European Football Championship, the Gdynia Główna railway station and platforms were renovated. This renovation also included the station head from the Kościerzyna direction.
From March to the end of June 2010, due to the reconstruction of the railway line between Pszczółki and Pruszcz Gdański, all freight traffic from the southern direction to the Tricity ports was redirected to Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway. Due to the low capacity of the route between Bąk and Maksymilianowo, the traffic was split and directed to the Bydgoszcz–Bąk–Kościerzyna–Gdynia and Tczew–Czersk–Bąk–Kościerzyna–Gdynia routes.
On 11 November 2010, Newag handed over two two-car diesel multiple SA137 units to the Pomeranian Voivodeship. By the end of the year, three more out of the four three-car SA138 vehicles purchased by the voivodeship were delivered, with the fourth one arriving at the beginning of 2011. These vehicles were bought with funds from the Regional Operational Programme for the Pomeranian Voivodeship for 2007–2013 and were assigned to serve the Kościerzyna–Gdynia–Kościerzyna and Gdynia–Hel–Gdynia routes. These vehicles replaced those previously used, which were produced by the Bydgoszcz-based Pesa.
In June 2011, due to track works on Warsaw–Gdańsk railway, its capacity was reduced. As a result, most of the freight traffic to the port in Gdynia was once again diverted to Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway. PKP Cargo freight trains on the diversion route were hauled by the last two-stroke locomotives ST44, sometimes assisted by SM42 locomotives. The diversion was planned to end by the end of the year. On 29 June 2011, just before the bridge on the Wierzyca river, a freight train on the Gdynia Port–Lublin route derailed. This caused damage to 300 meters of track and one of the bridge spans. As a result, the route between Kościerzyna and Bąk had to be closed, forcing an additional detour through Lipusz–Chojnice, which caused further problems and reduced the capacity of the connection serving the Gdynia port.
On 13 December 2015, PKP Szybka Kolej Miejska in Tricity took over the operation of passenger services on the Gdynia Główna–Kościerzyna section. In December 2022, the route was taken over by the Polregio company.
On 31 December 2015, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe announced a tender for the ongoing repair of the Maksymilianowo–Wierzchucin section. As a result of the repair work, which was carried out in August 2016, the speed limit for diesel multiple units and passenger trains was increased from 100 km/h to 120 km/h, and for freight trains from 60 km/h to 80 km/h. In March 2016, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe announced a tender for the revitalization of track no. 2 on Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway between Nowa Wieś Wielka and Maksymilianowo. The project included a comprehensive replacement of track infrastructure, overhaul of the overhead line, and the elimination of unused platforms at the Prądocin [pl] and Bydgoszcz Żółwin [pl] railway stations, as well as the platforms at Bydgoszcz Emilianowo [pl] railway station. The goal of the renovation was to increase the speed limit to 100 km/h for freight trains. Work on the Bydgoszcz freight bypass began in November 2016. In addition to these projects, further repair works were planned, including the electrification of the Maksymilianowo–Gdynia Główna section and the construction of new operational posts and a second track on the busiest sections. The revitalization was funded by the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme.
On 22 September 2016, Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway signed a contract with a consortium of Budimex [pl] and Ferrovial for the construction of two new stations on Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway, Gdynia Karwiny [pl] and Gdynia Stadion [pl]. Regular train services began stopping at these stations on 10 December 2017.
On 9 May 2017, a contract was signed for another stage of modernization work on the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Maksymilianowo section. On 25 September 2017, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe entered into an agreement with Egis Poland to develop project documentation for adding a second track between Gdańsk Osowa and Kościerzyna, as well as for the electrification of the Kościerzyna–Gdynia section. In 2018, it was decided that Egis Poland and WYG International would design a third track on the Gdańsk Osowa–Gdynia Główna section.
On 9 November 2018, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe signed a contract with the company MGGP to prepare project documentation for the reconstruction and electrification of the line between Maksymilianowo and Kościerzyna. The contract value was nearly 22.1 million PLN, and the estimated construction timeline was from 2020 to 2023. The planned project included the construction of a 53 km second track between Maksymilianowo and Zarośle, the electrification of over 103 km of track, and the modernization of 142 engineering structures, which would reduce the travel time between Bydgoszcz and Kościerzyna by 15 minutes. The expected maximum speed for passenger trains was 140 km/h, while for freight trains it was 120 km/h. The project also included the replacement of about 115 km of track, 146 switches, and the reconstruction of 57 level crossings, with new signaling systems installed. Additionally, 29 platforms at 15 stations and stops were rebuilt or newly constructed, equipped with new shelters, lighting, benches, public address systems, and information boards. Underground passages were planned for Maksymilianowo, Wierzchucin, and Lipowa Tucholska. The modernization also included the comprehensive upgrade of the Maksymilianowo railway station and the creation of a grade-separated junction with Chorzów Batory–Tczew railway, ensuring non-conflicting train movements. Railway signaling and telecommunication systems were modernized.
In 2018, discussions took place among local governments along the line to reinstate passenger services between Kościerzyna and Wierzchucin, initiated by the mayor of the Kościerzyna rural municipality, Grzegorz Piechowski. Joint funding for the services by the voivodeship and municipalities was considered.
On 13 July 2022, a tender was announced for the modernization and electrification of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway between Kościerzyna and Somonino, as well as for Somonino–Kartuzy railway under a design and build scheme.
In August 2023, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe announced a tender for construction works on the Somonino–Gdańsk Osowa section of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway as part of the Kościerzyna–Gdynia project, which also included the electrification of Pruszcz Gdański–Łeba railway [pl] between Glincz and Kartuzy (Phase II). In October 2023, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe canceled the tender for the modernization of the Kościerzyna–Kartuzy connection.
In 2023, passenger services on the Wierzchucin–Lipowa Tucholska section were the most deficit-ridden in the entire Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
On 20 September 2024, a contract was signed for construction works on the Somonino–Gdańsk Osowa section of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway as part of the Kościerzyna–Gdynia project, along with the electrification of Pruszcz Gdański–Łeba railway. In December 2024, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe signed an agreement with the contractor for the modernization of 27 km of Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway between Kościerzyna and Somonino, including the construction of a second track, as well as 8 km of Somonino–Kartuzy railway.

## Infrastructure
### Operational points

Stations on Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway can be divided into three main groups: those built before the construction of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line, those with architecture typical for the northern section of the Polish Coal Trunk-Line (Bydgoszcz–Gdynia), and later stations.
The first group mainly includes buildings on the former Kościerzyna–Kartuzy railway. There is no single typical architectural style here. Predominantly, Prussian-style buildings prevail, often simplified due to renovations.
The second group consists of stations built according to a standardized design by the French–Polish Rail Association. They have a three-section structure, with the largest section serving as residential quarters for station staff. The entrance to these quarters is located at the corner of the building, facing the station square. In addition to housing, a portion of the waiting room is located on the ground floor. The residential section is entirely separate from the waiting room. The central section houses the main waiting hall, which partially overlaps with the residential section, where a space is designated for the baggage counter. The third section contains two rooms: the station master's office and a room housing the ticket office, telegraph, and, if needed, the signal box.
Additionally, in a similar style but following a different design, three stations were built in 1928 – Bąk, Olpuch-Wdzydze, and Karsin. These buildings have a four-section layout. The main section is two-story in the center, containing the ticket office and the entrance to the upstairs residential quarters. The entrances to these residences face the station square. One of the smaller side sections houses a waiting room with a single entrance from the platform side, while the other contains the baggage counter and a small storage room.
Stations built later feature socialist realist architecture, or instead of a station building, there is a shelter on the platform, similar to those used at bus stops.
| Name of the railway station | Number of platform edges | Infrastructure |
| Nowa Wieś Wielka [pl] | 6 | siding public address system |
| Prądocin [pl] | 2 | |
| Bydgoszcz Emilianowo [pl] | 0 | 3 sidings |
| Bydgoszcz Żółwin [pl] (closed) | 0 | |
| Bydgoszcz Wschód [pl] | 3 | locomotive depot 5 sidings public address system |
| Bydgoszcz Leśna [pl] (junction, railway station and freight yard) | 2 | ticket office sidings shelter public address system pallet information boards |
| Maksymilianowo [pl] | 5 | 3 sidings public address system |
| Stronno [pl] | 1 | |
| Wudzyn [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Serock [pl] | 3 | public address system |
| Lubania Lipiny [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Świekatowo [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Lipienica [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Błądzim [pl] (railway station and public freight yard) | 3 | |
| Wierzchucin [pl] | 5 | public address system |
| Zielonka Pomorska [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Małe Gacno [pl] | 1 | shelter |
| Zarośle [pl] | 3 | |
| Rosochatka [pl] | 1 | |
| Lipowa Tucholska [pl] | 5 | public address system |
| Łąg Południowy | 1 | shelter |
| Szałamaje | 1 | |
| Wojtal | 1 | shelter |
| Bąk | 3 | public address system |
| Olpuch | 1 | shelter |
| Olpuch Wdzydze | 1 | |
| Podleś | 1 | |
| Kościerzyna | 4 | ticket office shelter public address system Skansen Parowozownia Kościerzyna 2 ramps inactive locomotive depot |
| Skorzewo | 1 | shelter |
| Gołubie Kaszubskie | 2 | shelter public address system |
| Krzeszna | 1 | shelter |
| Wieżyca | 1 | shelter |
| Sławki | 1 | shelter |
| Somonino | 2 | shelter public address system |
| Kiełpino Kartuskie | 1 | shelter |
| Babi Dół | 1 | shelter |
| Borkowo | 1 | shelter |
| Żukowo | 1 | shelter |
| Żukowo Wschodnie | 2 | public address system |
| Pępowo Kartuskie | 1 | shelter |
| Rębiechowo | 1 | shelter |
| Gdańsk Osowa | 3 | ramp public address system |
| Gdynia Wielki Kack | 1 | public address system |
| Gdynia Karwiny [pl] | 2 | |
| Gdynia Stadion [pl] | 2 | |
| Gdynia Główna | 8 | underground passage platform canopies electronic displays public address system ticket offices wi-fi 3 sidings |
| Gdynia Port | 0 | 32 sidings |

### Accompanying infrastructure
#### Railway Museum in Kościerzyna

Two locomotive depots operated along Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port – Kapuścisko Tranzytowe (now Bydgoszcz Wschód Towarowa) and Kościerzyna. The locomotive depot in Kościerzyna, established in 1928, was closed down, and in 1992, the Skansen Parowozownia Kościerzyna was opened in its place. The museum's collection includes railway vehicles, some of which are the only preserved examples of their series, as well as models and memorabilia related not only to the operation of the steam locomotive depot.
Additionally, in Kościerzyna, besides the typical staff housing within the station building, a multi-family railway housing estate was built between the station and the town. Construction of these buildings began in 1925. Residential buildings were also constructed near the Olpuch-Wdzydze and Bąk railway stations, as well as in Karsin, located along Laskowice Pomorskie–Bąk railway [pl].

## Train operations
### Regional trains

Regular regional train services are operated by Arriva RP between Maksymilianowo and Lipowa Tucholska, and by Polregio between Kościerzyna and Gdynia Główna.

### Long-distance trains

The 2008/2009 timetable, valid until 12 December 2009, was the last one to feature a fast train on this route. On 30 August 1990, the last fast train passed through the active passenger section of this line.

### Freight trains

The line was primarily built for long-distance freight traffic, though its share in this traffic has been minimal since the electrification of the Tczew connection. It mainly serves local traffic related to the industrial needs of Kościerzyna and Bytów counties. The importance of this line increases during disruptions on the Tczew–Gdańsk or Bydgoszcz–Tczew sections, as it serves as an alternative or reinforcement for these connections.
Additionally, the coal trunk-line is used by trains from other private carriers, including a TEM2 locomotive with a special platform and service wagon, which irregularly transports a single generator from the Alstom factory in Wrocław to the port of Gdynia. Previously, this train was hauled by an ST44 locomotive. Due to its oversized loading gauge, this train only operates during the day at a speed of 30 km/h.